ECA apple pies in high demand

Lincoln County residents canâ€™t get enough of the Extension Community Associationâ€™s homemade fried apple pies.
â€œThe first reason is theyâ€™re really good,â€ said Ruth Eurey, a member of the ECA. â€œThe next is, people donâ€™t want to make them.â€
Itâ€™s true that the process to produce a fried apple pie is not short. First, in September, you must dry and freeze the apples. Then nearly a year later, you have to cook the apples, cool them, make the dough by hand — which also includes rolling it out and crimping it. The final steps include filling, frying and packaging.
The end result is â€œapple-licious.â€
â€œItâ€™s mainly because itâ€™s fresh when you get them, and itâ€™s dried apples, which make a big difference in a pie,â€ said Helen Turner, the ECAâ€™s county council treasurer.
It takes a room full of women (and one devoted husband) working diligently to keep the orders filled. On Tuesday alone the group produced 500 pies.
Work takes place from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. throughout the week at the James W. Warren Citizens Center. Between rolling dough, filling pies and dealing with spattering grease, a lot of talking is done.
â€œWe have a friendly banter going on all the time,â€ said Lucille Johnson, an ECA member. â€œWe cover every topic under the sun.â€
Columbus Turner, the only man in the room, makes sure to listen closely.
â€œItâ€™s great,â€ he said. â€œYou learn a lot of things.â€
With the apples running out, making fried pies is nearing completion. Those who were late to order are likely out of luck.
There is a silver lining, however. The members of the ECA will be present at the Apple Festival Sept. 17, armed with more homemade apple pies.
Money from the sales goes to a number of worthy causes including the Red Cross, Amyâ€™s House and 4-H clubs.
by Sarah Grano